Inside out t-fastener system

Abstract

A medical device for providing wall apposition of two bodily walls in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The medical device is used at a previously formed puncture site having perforations formed in the walls. By way of example, the two walls are described herein as the abdominal and gastric walls, although it will be recognized that any two bodily walls may be fastened together utilizing the medical device and the methods described herein. It will also be understood that the procedures described herein may be performed using image guidance such as fluoroscopy, although the device and method may readily be performed without such assistance.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 854,592 filed on Oct. 26, 2006, entitled “INSIDE OUT T-FASTENER”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to medical devices and procedures for wall apposition utilizing tissue fasteners such as “T-fasteners” or “T-anchors”, and more particularly relates to percutaneous image-guided placement of such fasteners and gastrostomy tubes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The percutaneous image-guided placement of gastrostomy tubes is generally considered safer than endoscopic or surgical placement, but is usually limited to smaller diameter gastrostomy tubes and / or the use of T-fasteners so as not to push the gastric wall away from the abdominal wall. It has been found that one difficulty in using T-fasteners in this manner is that the fasteners sometimes go into the abdomin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]A medical device and method is provided for obtaining wall apposition of two bodily walls which reliably and accurately places fasteners at favorable angles, and in a controllable pattern that minimizes the number of fasteners required. The medical device generally includes an access cannula, a guide tube, and a flexible puncturing device. The guide tube is sized to be slidably received by the access cannula and is operable between a first linear configuration and a second non-linear configuration. The flexible puncturing device is sized to be slidably received by the guide tube. The method for

Problems solved by technology

The percutaneous image-guided placement of gastrostomy tubes is generally considered safer than endoscopic or surgical placement, but is usually limited to smaller diameter gastrostomy tubes and/or the use of T-fasteners so as not to push the gastric wall away from the abdominal wall.

It ha

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